The president of the breakaway region of Transdniester has called for a weekend election to be scrapped because of what he said were "numerous violations" in voting.

Incumbent Igor Smirnov has run the de facto independent region of Moldova since 1990.

An exit poll had shown Smirnov leading in the December 11 election but falling short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a second-round runoff.

Two other candidates, Moscow-backed parliament speaker Anatoly Kaminsky and former speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk, both claimed to be ahead of Smirnov and to be set for the runoff.

Earlier on December 12, election authorities declared a two-day delay in announcing the results of the poll.

The chairman of the Central Election Commission, Pyotr Denisenko, said the commission had "received many complaints from voters and candidates" and would release results on December 14 instead of December 12 as planned.

Transdniester proclaimed its independence from Moldova after a short war in the early 1990s, but it is not recognized by Russia or any other country.